Heritage open day walks

Learn something new about an area, by taking one of the many heritage walks on offer as part of the European Heritage Days project.

Over 5500 assorted events, including walks,  are taking place in the UK organised by the national heritage bodies such as English Heritage or the Scottish Civic Trust.

Depending on where you live, each umbrella group has their own title for events held in their jurisdiction:

• In England the events come under the title – Heritage Open Days and take place between the 9-12 September 2010
• In Scotland they are known as Doors Open Days
• In Wales Open Doors 2010 – Drysau Agored 2010 – is the title
• and in Northern Ireland events are arranged under the title European Heritage Open Days

Find out more about the Heritage Open Day scheme and events in your area via Heritageandhistory.com

Blue plaque walks

Finding out something new about where you live by taking one of the many blue plaque walks on offer.

Plaques have now been installed around the country and they commemorate the link between notable figures of the past and the buildings in which they lived and worked.

The Blue Plaque scheme is officially based in London, where over 850 locations are now marked.  Local councils and civic organisations administer their own schemes with advice from English Heritage.

Highlights of Blue Plaque or commemorative walks include:

• In Rugby, a walking tour is on offer taking in the many historical, sporting and architectural features led by a blue badge guide.
• Take a stroll around Leeds with the Leeds Civic Trust on Thursday 9 September 2010 and you can learn much more about the local characters that shaped the City.
• Find out more about some of the 100 commemorative plaques in and around Brighton with the Floral Clock Circular trail organised by the Regency Town House project.

Local history walks

If notable figures are not your thing, then maybe a local history walk is one way you can get involved.

Buildings, parks, statues and industry all provide a rich mix of local stories and are a fantastic way to learn more about your surroundings.

History walk highlights include:

• Learn more about the industrial heritage of Reading with a 2 mile walk organised by Explore Reading.
• Celebrate the 150 anniversary of Wheathampstead Station in Hertfordshire.  The station was on the Hatfield to Luton & Dunstable Line and is now a cycle & walk way.
• The Hooton Park site in Cheshire is a World War I / World War II airfield site which now consists of three Grade II* listed Belfast Hangars built in 1917. For Heritage Open Days you can attend a special presentation on the history of Hooton Park followed by a walk round the site.
• Trace the history of Kirkcaldy in Fife through the lesser and better known characters buried in the graveyard; people like Baillie Robert Philp who set up schools for poor children in Kirkcaldy and find out who fought the last duel in Scotland! 12 September 2010
• City of Llandaff Guided Walk - 18 Sep 10.30 – 2.30 A guided walk around the historic city of Llandaff considering its architectural history and development from Norman times and Victorian Renaissance.

Nature Walks

A number of walking events with a nature theme are available during September.  Bats, marshlands, rivers and dogs are all topics discussed or used as themes for some of the many nature based walks.

Nature walk highlights include:

• Built in the late 14th century, as the lordly residence of the Crichtons and later home to the Earls of Bothwell, Crichton Castle, currently in the care of Historic Scotland, is home to a variety of bats, such as pipistrelle, brown long-eared and Natterers. The event starts at 1900 hrs and finishes at 2030 hrs approximately,  Saturday, 11 September 2010.
• From Bricks to Butterflies – is the title of an event being held at Bletchley’s Blue Lagoon Nature Reserve, Buckinghamshire.  See how the ravages of industry transformed the landscape allowing wildlife (and people) to flourish.
• Dolaucothi Goldmines, Pumsaint, Llanwrda – Saturday, 11 September 11 – 5pm –  These unique Roman gold mines are set amid wooded hillsides with splendid views of the beautiful Cothi Valley and three estate walks.

Notes

Please note that although many walks are free, additional charges may apply, such a car parking. We would advise that you check with the organisers prior to arranging your itinerary. We are not responsible for any incorrect details or if events are cancelled.

Flower powered cycle locks for primary schools

Twelve schools in Hammersmith and Fulham have a new way to lock up their bikes and grow plants at the same time.

The schools, who work with sustainable transport charity Sustrans to encourage more children to cycle to school, received a ‘Plantlock’ each, to keep pupils bikes secure whilst they are in class.

The Plantlock’s – a steel plant pot with a frame each side to lock a bike to – are designed and made in London, and were a finalist in the Design Museum’s ‘Design of the Year’ Award in 2009.

The schools have received the locks through funding from the borough’s School Travel Team.

Sustrans Bike It officer for Hammersmith and Fulham, Owen Powell, comments, “These Plantlock’s are a brilliantly simple design, lovely to look at and fun to use. Keeping your bike safely locked up is easy to do, and the Bike It schools can grow flowers and vegetables at the same time.”

Sustrans works with 12 schools in the area, in partnership with NHS Hammersmith and Fulham and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, to help children overcome whatever it is that is preventing them from cycling to school.

Participating schools across England have seen levels of cycling treble within a year– bucking the trend in declining numbers of children cycling to school.

About the Plantlock

The Plantlock is designed and made by the Front Yard Company of London.

Weighing in at around 75kg when fully planted the free standing container is considered to be an “immovable object” to lock bicycles to.  For added security it can be secured to the ground through the base.

New bridge over the River Ribble

Walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers on the Pennine Bridleway National Trail will soon be able to stay dry when they cross the River Ribble – thanks to a joint project by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and Natural England.

Work has started on a new path and timber bridge that will cross the river near Selside as part of a new bridleway from the B6479 road near the village to an existing track at Dalemire Barn and the Cam Road – a length of approximately 2.5km.

The Authority’s Pennine Bridleway Project Officer, Peter Lambert said: “There’s a lot of work involved and we had to get the agreement of the landowners, obtain planning permission and Environment Agency consent and carry out extensive, detailed ecological and archaeological surveys before we could start”.

The bridleway bridge will use an innovative design, developed by Peebles-based  Forestry Civil Engineering that involves short lengths of timber to create a bridge with three arches spanning nearly 50 metres.

The main contractor, Houseman and Falshaw, based at Copgrove near Harrogate, aims to have all the ‘in river’ work completed by end of September – with the bridge and bridleway track from Dalemire Barn completed by the end of December.

Marsden Agricultural and Environmental Services Ltd., of Long Preston has been appointed as the contractor for Far Moor common bridleway construction work at Selside on the west side of river.

This is one of the last sections of the Pennine Bridleway to be built in the National Park, with funding secured from Natural England earlier this year for the work.

Malcolm Petyt, the YDNPA’s Member Champion for Recreational Management, said: “This route will be a tremendous recreational resource. Over the next year, new sections of the Pennine Bridleway will be opening in the north of the National Park, providing a continuous route through from the A65 at Long Preston to Ravenstonedale near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria.”

Anna Righton, Natural England Pennine Bridleway Project Manager, said: “Natural England are delighted that this section will be completed this summer after so many years of hard work and planning.

Already, 130 miles of the Pennine Bridleway are open and used by horse riders, mountain bikers and walkers to enjoy the wonderful countryside along its length – completion of this brand new section of bridleway will open up more opportunities for locals and visitors to this area.”

Walks over the Summer

The North York Moors National Park Authority is offering a series of walks with a difference this August.

The walks range from a three mile ramble along the coast to hunt for fossils to an all-day, 12 mile adventure up hill and down dale.

The series kicks off with an atmospheric evening walk with Ranger Jay Marrison around the high moorland of Levisham Estate on Sunday 1 August 2010.

On Thursday 5 August, the attention turns to the hidden gems of Beck Dale and Ash Dale near Helmsley when Interpretation Officer Mark Lewis leads a 6.5 mile walk which includes a scenic stop for a picnic.

Fossil hunting is on the cards on Friday 13 August on a 3 mile walk with Coastal Officer John Beech between Staithes and Port Mulgrave and on Saturday 21 August, Ranger Matt Fitzgerald leads an all-day 12 mile walk to take in the spectacular views found on the high moors around The Moors National Park Centre in Danby.

The North York Moors has the largest expanse of heather moorland in England and Wales which covers around one third of the National Park.

Senior Ranger David Smith talks about the importance of the moorland on a 3.5 mile walk over Levisham Moor on Sunday 22 August.

Participants will also get to see birds of prey close up and find out more about the management work undertaken by the Levisham Moor Group of the British Falconers Club.

The final walk in the series takes place on Sunday 29 August when Voluntary Ranger Dave Perry looks at the archaeology and ancient rock art to be found in the Cleveland Hills on a five mile walk starting from Clay Bank.

Sally Ann Smith, the Authority’s Events and Exhibitions Coordinator, said:

“With the moors taking on their much-photographed purple flush, August is a great time to be out in the North York Moors. More than just a walk in the park, this series of guided rambles will offer an insight to some of the area’s hidden gems and the work being done to conserve them.”

Most of the walks cost £2.50 with no charge for children [the 12 mile moorland walk costs £3 per adult and £1.50 per child) and booking is advisable to guarantee a place. The booking line is 01439 772738.

All aboard the Heritage Bus

Nostalgia-fans will be in their element this summer with two heritage buses offering trips to and around the North York Moors National Park.

The buses are part of the National Park Authority’s Moorsbus network and all day travel costs just £5 with up to four children travelling free [with a fare paying adult].

A lovingly restored green and cream 1946 Leyland coach, known as the Heritage Bus, tours the south-west corner of the North York Moors.

The bus travels between Thirsk and Helmsley calling at the picturesque villages of Kilburn, Coxwold, Ampleforth, Hawnby and Hutton-le-Hole along the way as well as Sutton Bank National Park Centre.

People can also use the bus to visit Byland and Rievaulx Abbeys and Rievaulx Terrace and Temples. It operates every Sunday from 4 July to 29 August and Bank Holiday Monday.

From Whitby, people can hop on board a beautiful 1958 Bedford Coach to get to The Moors National Park Centre and the wonderful views from Danby Beacon. The Vintage Bus departs Whitby at 11am every Sunday from 25 July to 29 August plus Bank Holiday Monday.

Janet Armstrong, the National Park Authority’s Transport Project Officer, said:

“Both buses offer people the chance of a great day out with some fabulous views of the North York Moors. They’re also good value for money and help keep congestion on our narrow moorland roads to a minimum.”

Timetables for the Heritage and Vintage Buses can be found in the Moorsbus network timetable available from National Park and Visitor Information Centres and online at www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/moorsbus

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